Michael Fiddelke, the incoming chief executive of Target, said in a videotaped message to employees on Monday that the "violence and loss of life is incredibly painful" following the killing of another protestor by federal agents over the weekend in Minneapolis.
Fiddelke, who takes over the company on February 1 and described himself as "raising a family here in the Twin Cities" in the address, framed the unrest as a community wound. "As someone who is raising a family here in the Twin Cities and as a leader of this hometown company, I want to acknowledge where we are," he said. "The violence and loss of life in our community is incredibly painful. What’s happening affects us not just as a company, but as people, as neighbors, friends and family members within Target," he added. The transcript of his remarks was shared with Reuters.
The incoming CEO did not explicitly refer to the recent deaths of protestors Alex Pretti and Renee Good, who were shot and killed earlier this month by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents. He also did not mention President Donald Trump or lay out any new corporate policies in the video.
In his address, Fiddelke reiterated that Target is focusing on what it can control and that the safety of employees and guests remains the top priority. "We are doing everything we can to manage what’s in our control, always keeping the safety of our team and guests our top priority," he said.
For weeks, Target and other major corporations based in Minnesota have largely stayed quiet about the local impacts of immigration enforcement, a reticence the article says stems from concerns about retaliation or possible boycotts. The Trump administration has defended its enforcement operations and has increased the number of agents involved - a stance that persists despite public sentiment: a recent Reuters poll found that 69% of Americans believe federal agents should minimize harm to people during operations even if that reduces the number of arrests.
One widely reported ICE encounter occurred at a Target store in the Minneapolis suburb of Richfield, where two U.S. citizens were detained. Target faced public protests after it emerged that one of those detained was a 17-year-old employee. The company has also drawn criticism for allowing ICE agents to use its parking lots and bathrooms.
The relative silence among Twin Cities corporate leaders shifted on Sunday after more than 60 Minnesota-based CEOs, including executives from Target, Best Buy and UnitedHealth, signed an open letter calling on officials to "immediately de-escalate tensions" in Minneapolis following Pretti's killing. The letter itself did not specifically mention the shootings or President Trump.
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Summary of context and messaging:
- Fiddelke acknowledged community trauma and emphasized safety, but did not address specific deaths or announce policy shifts.
- Target's prior involvement in ICE-related incidents, including a Richfield store detention and protests over a detained 17-year-old employee, has drawn public scrutiny.
- Corporate leaders in Minnesota issued a joint call to de-escalate tensions; the open letter did not name the shootings or national political figures.